ATMs in Indonesia: locations, fees, and tips

Planning a trip to Indonesia from the UK? Whether it’s a week-long beach break, backpacking tour or a longer stay for work or study, you’re going to need some spending money.

Getting cash out from a local ATM could be a convenient way to get your hands on some Indonesian rupiah (IDR). But where do you find them in Indonesia?

Find out everything you need to know about locating and using ATMs in Indonesia, including which cards and PIN numbers are accepted.

We’ll also cover fees and currency conversion, to help you get the best deal on your travel spending.

We’ll even show you a super convenient way to spend and withdraw money abroad using the Wise card, which works in 150+ countries.

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Where do I find ATMs in Indonesia?

ATMs in Indonesia are common in bigger cities and in tourist hotspots, like Bali. They’re usually located in airports, markets and malls, outside bank branches and on busy tourist streets.

In more rural areas, though, you may have a hard time finding one. If you’re headed into Indonesia’s smaller towns, remote/rural locations or smaller islands, you may want to stock up on rupiah beforehand.

You can find some local bank ATMs by using the online locator tools for some of Indonesia’s biggest banks.

• Bank Mandiri ATM locator
• Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) ATM locator
• Bank Central Asia (BCA) ATM locator
• Bank Negra Indonesia ATM locator.

What are ATMs called in Indonesia?

ATMs are generally called ATMs in Indonesia, and they should look similar to the cash machines you’ll find back in the UK. So, you shouldn’t have any problem spotting one.

Will my credit or debit card work in Indonesian ATMs?

As a UK traveller, you should be fine to use your card at Indonesian ATMs. Most accept Visa and Mastercard debit and credit cards, but it’s unlikely that they’ll accept American Express or Discover cards.¹

You can search for your nearest cash machine in Indonesia with these global ATM locators from Visa and Mastercard:

• Visa ATM locator
• Mastercard ATM locator

Before withdrawing cash, just make sure to check whether your bank at home has any charges for overseas ATM withdrawals.

Indonesia ATM Pins

ATMs in Indonesia generally accept 6-digit PIN numbers, but they should also accept the 4-digit PINs we use here in the UK.¹

When it comes to paying for things with your card, Chip & PIN is used in Indonesia. But you may also encounter the older magnetic stripe systems, where your card needs to be swiped by the vendor.¹

Many debit cards have both, but it’s a good idea to check your card before you travel.

Indonesia ATM max cash withdrawal limits

The maximum amount you can withdraw from an ATM (whether in the UK or overseas) will largely depend on your home bank and its limits for your card or account.

But many Indonesian ATMs also have their own limits (although it may be possible to find ATMs with no limit).

Generally, you can expect to be able to withdraw a maximum of between 1.25 million to 3 million Indonesian rupiah¹ - depending which ATM you use. These sound like huge figures, but it’s actually only around £62 to £149 in GBP.

Let your bank know before you travel

Nowadays, it isn’t absolutely essential to tell your UK bank in advance that you’ll be using your debit card abroad.

But you might want to get in touch anyway, just so your bank knows where you’ll be spending and withdrawing cash. The last thing you want in the middle of your Indonesian adventure is for your transactions to be flagged up as fraudulent or your card blocked.

To avoid any of this hassle, it could even be worth getting an alternative spending card - one that is specially designed for international travel.

A great option is the Wise card, as it works in 150+ countries and lets you withdraw up to £200 a month (max. 2 withdrawals) from overseas ATMs without any fees*. Wise doesn’t charge for these withdrawals but you’ll need to check that the ATM operator doesn’t charge its own fees.

Choose to withdraw in the local currency and your Wise card will do the currency conversion at the mid-market exchange rate with only a small conversion fee*.

This means no expensive mark-ups eating into your spending money.

What are the ATM fees in Indonesia?

Now we come to the all-important question - how much will it cost you to withdraw cash in Indonesia?

There are a few things to factor in, including ATM access fees, your UK bank’s foreign transaction fees and currency conversion costs. We’ll look at each of these in more detail below.

Exchange rate fees at ATMs in Indonesia (DCC)

The first thing to get to grips with when taking cash out abroad is currency conversion.

When you use an ATM in another country, you’ll usually be presented with a screen asking if you want the transaction to be carried out in your home currency (GBP) or the local currency (which in this case would be IDR).

It’s always recommended to choose to withdraw in the local currency, and decline the currency conversion.

This should mean you get a better exchange rate. This is because the conversion will be done by your bank or card provider, rather than the ATM - which would use something called Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) to choose its own exchange rate.

When DCC is involved, it usually means an unfavourable rate and a more expensive transaction for you. So, it’s best avoided.

Home bank ATM fees

Before taking out cash overseas, it’s always a good idea to check whether your home bank has any fees for foreign currency transactions.

These are sometimes called ‘non-Sterling transaction fees’, and apply to overseas purchases or cash withdrawals (or both).

So to avoid any surprise charges, get in touch with your bank before you travel. Alternatively, you can check the fee information document for your UK bank account.

Indonesia bank ATM fees

The great news is that many bank-owned ATMs in Indonesia don’t tend to charge access fees or surcharges.² This should be the case for both internationally-issued cards and those linked to Indonesian bank accounts.

However, there may be exceptions, including non-bank providers.

So, make sure to check the ATM screen and see if there are any fees before confirming the withdrawal.

Can I get free cash withdrawals in Indonesia?

Yes, it should be possible to get free cash withdrawals in Indonesia, but you may need to try a few different ATMs.

Opt for a bank-owned ATM - if there’s a fee, it’ll be displayed on the screen before you confirm the transaction.

Just make sure you decline the option for currency conversion.

Alternatively, you can check if your UK bank has a partnership with any Indonesian banks. If so, you may be able to benefit from low or no fees if you use their ATMs.

Tips for avoiding ATM fees in Indonesia

Always choose to be charged in the local currency

When you use a UK-issued card in a foreign ATM, you may be offered the ‘service’ of being charged in your local currency (i.e. GBP). While at first glance this may seem like the easiest option, it’s always best to decline this.

Being charged in the local currency helps you avoid hidden ATM rip-offs by giving you the best possible exchange rate.

This is because if you choose the local currency (in this case, IDR), your bank or card provider will do the currency conversion and apply the exchange rate.

But if you choose to have the transaction charged in GBP, this gives the ATM permission to give you an arbitrary (generally much more unfavourable) exchange rate for your withdrawal. So, it’s best avoided.

Check out the latest GBP to IDR conversion rates below:

Avoid airport ATMs

In most countries, ATMs at airports tend to be very expensive. They often charge high fees for withdrawing money or converting currency, relying on travellers looking for the most convenient way to withdraw cash.

So, they’re best avoided in favour of an alternative such as exchanging cash before travelling, waiting until you can find a fee-free ATM in Indonesia, or using a travel debit card for spending.

Check whether your home bank has partner banks in Indonesia

If your UK bank has an overseas ATM network or partners with banks in Indonesia, you may be able to benefit from low or no fees on ATM withdrawals. It’s always worth a quick check before you travel.

Choose the right fee-free card

Many UK banks now offer fee-free spending and cash withdrawals overseas (although of course, you still need to watch out for ATM access fees).

But if your bank doesn’t, you might want to switch ahead of your next trip abroad.

Another golden rule to remember is that unless it’s unavoidable, you should never withdraw cash using a credit card.

It’s usually much more expensive than using a debit card, as fees are charged for cash-based transactions. Plus, interest will likely start accruing right away, so you won’t benefit from your usual interest-free period.

Spend and withdraw worldwide with the Wise card

Love to travel? If you regularly spend time between countries, the Wise card could be your perfect travel companion.

It’s a dedicated contactless travel card, letting you spend like a local in 150+ countries worldwide. It automatically converts your pounds to the local currency at the mid-market exchange rate whenever you spend.

And when you need cash, you can use it to withdraw up to £200 a month (max. 2 withdrawals) fee-free. You’ll just need to check whether the ATM operator charges its own fees.

Wise only ever charges small, transparent fees* for currency conversion, and it’s fee-free if you already have the currency in your Wise account.

Sign up for a Wise account online and you can get your own Wise card for a one-time fee of just £7.

Sign up for a Wise account

ATMs in Indonesia FAQs

Is it better to use cash or card in Indonesia?

Debit card use is growing in Indonesia, especially in bigger cities, urban and tourist areas.

However, cash is still widely used - and is essential for things like transport (i.e. tuk-tuks and taxis), street food vendors, tipping and shopping at local markets and bazaars.

So, you might want to take a mix of cash and card to Indonesia for your trip.

How much is ATM withdrawal fee in Indonesia?

Many ATMs are free in Indonesia, so you may not have to pay a fee at all. Just make sure to check the screen before confirming the withdrawal, and always decline the option for currency conversion.

Can I use my debit card in Indonesia?

Yes, you should be fine to use your UK debit card in Indonesia, as both Visa and Mastercard international cards are accepted. However, you might also need some cash on you.

Do you tip in Indonesia?

Tipping isn’t common everywhere in Indonesia, but it may be appreciated in restaurants, bars and cafes in popular tourist areas.

How much cash to bring to Indonesia for a week?

Although it depends where you’re going and what you plan to do during your trip, you might want to have around 2.5 million to 7 million Indonesian rupees (approx. £124 to £348 GBP) for a week in Indonesia.³

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Sources used:

1. ATM Fee Saver - Cash and ATMs in Indonesia: Fees, limits, exchange & all you need when visiting Indonesia
2. Backpack Moments - Money in Indonesia: A Tourist Guide to ATMs, Cards and Exchange
3. Exiap - How much spending money do I need for Indonesia?

Sources last checked on date: 28-Nov-2024